Environmental advocacy groups have initiated a federal lawsuit to stop the construction of a migrant detention center on an airstrip situated within the Florida Everglades, a region recognized for its ecological sensitivity.
The lawsuit, filed in Miami federal court, requests that the project be paused until a thorough environmental review is conducted, as mandated by both federal and state regulations. Additionally, it highlights the legal need for public commentary on the proposed facility.
Critics have labeled the center, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” as both cruel and a threat to the fragile wetlands environment. Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and various state officials defend the facility, arguing that it supports President Donald Trump’s hardline approach to illegal immigration.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has commended Florida for its initiative as the Department seeks to expand its immigration detention capacity significantly. Governor DeSantis announced that the center will begin processing individuals who entered the U.S. without authorization as soon as next week, underscoring Florida’s commitment to the federal immigration enforcement agenda.
“The state of Florida is all in on President Trump’s mission,” DeSantis stated during a tour of the facility on the program “Fox and Friends.” He emphasized the urgent need for enhanced capacity to intake, process, and deport individuals.
Construction is already underway for the compound, comprising heavy-duty tents, trailers, and other temporary structures on a Miami-Dade County airfield located approximately 45 miles west of downtown Miami within the Big Cypress National Preserve. The state Republican Party has even launched merchandise featuring the slogan “Alligator Alcatraz.”
The lawsuit is brought forth by the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Everglades, an organization founded by Marjory Stoneman Douglas, who authored “River of Grass” and was a prominent champion for the Everglades. They are represented by the Earthjustice law firm, along with others including Scott Hiaasen, the son of Florida writer Carl Hiaasen.
Eve Samples, the executive director of Friends of the Everglades, articulated the group’s concerns in a news release, stating, “This site is more than 96% wetlands, surrounded by the Big Cypress National Preserve, and is habitat for the endangered Florida panther and other iconic species. This scheme is not only cruel, it threatens the Everglades ecosystem that state and federal taxpayers have spent billions to protect.”
Named as defendants in the lawsuit are several federal and state agencies, which include the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for DeSantis stated that the state would be contesting the legal action in court. “Governor Ron DeSantis has insisted that Florida will be a force multiplier for federal immigration enforcement, and this facility is a necessary staging operation for mass deportations located at a pre-existing airport that will have no impact on the surrounding environment,” said spokesman Bryan Griffin via email.
Also planned is a protest led by Native American groups who regard the land as sacred, scheduled to occur near the facility on Saturday. The Big Cypress region is home to 15 traditional Miccosukee and Seminole tribal villages, along with burial grounds and ceremonial sites.
The site chosen for the detention center carries significant historical weight for environmental advocates. Half a century ago, they successfully opposed a proposal to construct what was intended to be the world’s largest airport just north of the Everglades National Park.
Opposition to that airport project included prominent figures like Douglas, who along with others founded Friends of the Everglades specifically to fight against it. The movement ultimately succeeded, and it was Republican politicians who played a role in halting the airport plans.
A U.S. Geological Survey environmental impact statement, one of the first of its kind, concluded that the proposed airport would irreparably damage the ecosystem of South Florida and the Everglades National Park itself. This understanding prompted GOP Florida Governor Claude Kirk to rescind state support for the airport, an action later echoed by President Richard Nixon.
Though the airport was ultimately scrapped, one long runway remains in use today. Subsequently, with backing from President Gerald Ford, the federal government acquired the surrounding land for $150 million, which led to the establishment of the Big Cypress National Preserve on October 11, 1974.
In a reflection of history repeating itself, the current lawsuit indicates a need for the Friends once again to mobilize in an effort to prevent harmful development within the heart of the Everglades ecosystem, specifically in the same location.
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